Thenhewasonhisfeetandmovingawayfromthedirectionofthefire,crouching,running,stoppingeveryfiftyyards,listening.HeheardabranchcracksomewherebetweenhimandtheFortress.Hedroppedtohisstomach.
CrawlusingyourelbowswasanotherofCaptainAdolfsson’sfavouriteexpressions.Blomkvistcoveredthenext150yardsonhiskneesandtoesandelbowsthroughtheundergrowth.Hepushedasidetwigsandbranches.Twiceheheardsuddencracksinthethicketbehindhim.Thefirstseemedtobeveryclose,maybetwentypacestotheright.Hefroze,layperfectlystill.Afterawhilehecautiouslyraisedhisheadandlookedaround,buthecouldseeno-one.Helaystillforalongtime,hisnervesonfullalert,readytofleeorpossiblymakeadesperatecounterattackiftheenemycameathim.Thenextcrackwasfromfartheraway.Thensilence.
HeknowsI’mhere.Hashetakenupapositionsomewhere,waitingformetostartmoving,orhasheretreated?
Blomkvistkeptcrawlingthroughtheundergrowthuntilhereachedthe?sterg?rden’sfence.
Thiswasthenextcriticalmoment.Apathraninsidethefence.Helaystretchedoutontheground,watching.Thefarmhousewas400yardsdownagentleslope.Totherightofthehousehesawcowsgrazing.Whyhadn’tanyoneheardtheshotsandetoinvestigate?Summer.Maybenobodyisathomerightnow.
Therewasnoquestionofcrossingthepasture—therehewouldhavenocoveratall.Thestraightpathbesidethefencewastheplacehehimselfwouldhavepickedforaclearfieldoffire.Heretreatedintothebrushuntilhecameoutontheothersideintoasparsepinewood.
Hetookthelongwayaround?sterg?rden’sfieldsandS?derbergettoreachhome.Whenhepassed?sterg?rdenhecouldseethattheircarwasgone.AtthetopofS?derbergethestoppedandlookeddownonHedeby.Intheoldfishingcabinsbythemarinathereweresummervisitors;womeninbathingsuitsweresittingtalkingonadock.Hesmelledsomethingcookingonanoutdoorgrill.Childrenweresplashinginthewaternearthedocksinthemarina.
Justafter8:00.Itwasfiftyminutessincetheshotshadbeenfired.Nilssonwaswateringhislawn,wearingshortsandnoshirt.Howlonghaveyoubeenthere?Vanger’shousewasemptybutforAnna.HaraldVanger’shouselookeddesertedasalways.ThenhesawIsa